START ME UP!
Ntilikina would love to be primary PG after break
LOS ANGELES — There’s a possibility rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina will go from the no-defense Rising Stars game Friday at Staples Center straight into the Knicks’ starting lineup.
The 19-year-old Frenchman, who hasn’t yet made a start, is hopeful.
After the Knicks blew a 27-point lead to the Wizards on Wednesday, coach Jeff Hornacek reiterated he’s ready to tinker with the lineup following the All-Star break, specifically to address the point guard logjam. Hornacek said the move would be to play his three young guards — Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Burke — more and current starting point guard Jarrett Jack less.
If Jack is out of the starting lineup Friday at Orlando, does that mean Ntilikina, the Knicks’ 2017 lottery pick will make his first start?
“Whatever situation coach puts me in, I’ll go all out,” Ntilikina said at Friday’s press conference before helping the World team to a 155-124 win over the USA in the rookie-sophomore game. “Of course starting would be a goal for me in the future. If it’s going to be now, I’ll love it.”
Ntilikina scored six points for the World team. In 18:40, he collected five assists, four rebounds, three steals and shot 3-of-6, including a rare driving dunk down the lane.
Hornacek could go with newcomer Mudiay, who arrived eight days ago in a deadline deal. In their first three games together, Ntilikina has played in the same backcourt with Mudiay, mostly at shooting guard. Ntilikina said he also played off the ball some last season in the French League, where his Strasbourg team came within one win of the championship.
“I was playing more point guard the beginning of the season, now starting to play shooting guard with Emmanuel and Trey,” Ntilikina said. “Of course it will take time. I’m getting better at it. Whatever position I have to be in to make the team better, I will go.”
In 20 minutes per game, Ntilikina is av- eraging 5.3 points on 35.4 percent shooting. His defense got him tabbed for this event, as voted by assistant coaches, but hesitancy to create his own shot has marked his career since the French League.
“Every part of the game,” Ntilikina said when asked what he would like to improve upon in his final 23 games. “I would say more focus on offensive skills, being aggressive.”
In fact, Mudiay, who played in the Ris- ing Stars Challenge in 2016 and 2017, knew enough to encourage Ntilikina to let loose in the game.
“He told me how it was, talked to me about the mind set for this game,” Ntilikina said. “He just told me to show what you can do. Shoot the ball, enjoy the moment. When you get it, shoot the ball.”
As for the Los Angeles experience, Ntilikina intends to stay until Sunday and see the sights with some family members who flew in. He also may attend the AllStar Game. He said the experience would have been more fun if first-time All-Star Kristaps Porzingis were here, but he’s laid up until sometime next season. Ntilikina has spoken with Porzingis on the phone.
“He told me to enjoy this, but we talked about how he was very motivated to get back stronger,” Ntilikina said.
He also hopes to run into LeBron James to discuss their oncourt pushing squabble in November. Ntilikina said his first memory of the NBA was watching James get drafted in 2003.
“There’s a difference off the court and on the court,” Ntilikina said. “On the court, we both want to win and dominate the other team. When something happens like that, you have to stand up as a player.”
Surrounded by one of the largest media throngs, Ntilikina answered as many questions in French as English regarding myriad topics. He was asked what he had for dinner Thursday night (steak and pasta); would he consider playing for the national team of Belgium, where he was born (no); what kind of superhero he would be (someone who flies); and his hidden talent (piano).